Gene Mutation Could Drive Us to Eat More Fat

People with a mutation in the gene Melanocortin-4
receptor (MCR4) tend to eat more fat, according to a study by researchers
from The University of Cambridge.

The satiety signals are improperly processed for such
individuals.

Three chicken curries that looked the same but with varying level of
fat were given to the study participants. Participants with the mutation
in the gene tended to eat more servings of the high-fat version of the curry.

Researchers from the
University of Cambridge have been able to validate what obese people have been
claiming for a long time now-that craving for fat is probably gene
driven. Sadaf Farooqi and
colleagues found that people with a mutation in the gene melanocortin-4
receptor (MCR4) were more likely to eat high-fat food, even when the fat is
hidden. It didn't just matter how good it looked but it also mattered how good
it felt after it was eaten.

Gene Mutation Could Drive Us to Eat More Fat

People tend to eat till
their body begins to signal that they are full, these satiety signals form the
essence of portion control and, in most instances, weight gain. The MCR4 gene
mutation is found to downregulate the satiety signals which could contribute to
weight gain in individuals with the gene mutation. However, the study by these
researchers found that apart from satiety signals, people with the mutation
tend to crave fat more than people
without the mutation.

‘People with MCR4 gene mutation tend to crave fat more than people without the mutation.’

Chicken
Korma Buffet Study

Fifty-four people were included
in the study, out of which 20 participants were lean, 20 obese and 14 obese
with a
mutation in the MCR4 gene. They were given three versions of
chicken korma with varying levels of fat- 20%, 40% and 60% but they all looked
the same. The study participants were initially given a serving each of the
three chicken kormas and then were free to take more servings of whichever
version of the dish they wanted.

The study extended to
desserts too, where three versions of the dessert Eton mess was served, with
8%, 24% and 54% of energy content. The dessert was made using strawberries,
meringue and whipped cream.

Results of the Study

The study participants were found to eat the same
amount of food.

People with MCR4 gene mutation ate 95% more of the fat
version of the chicken korma than lean participants.

People with MCR4 gene mutation ate 64% more of the fat
version of the chicken korma than obese participants who did not have the
gene mutation.

The lean and obese participants ate more dessert than
obese participants with MCR4 gene mutation.

Obese people with MCR4 gene mutation ate less of all
three versions of the dessert.

The results of the study
highlight the tendency of people with MCR4 gene mutation to eat more fat and to
eat less sugar. The food preference exhibited by these
people is an underlying trait dictated by the gene mutation and
identifying the presence of this mutation, will help people make conscious food choices.

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